?400 million needed for Masbate power restoration after Super Typhoon Opong

Restoration of damaged power lines in affected areas in Masbate due to typhoon ‘Opong’ and the Southwest Monsoon will cost roughly P400 million, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).

With the scale of destruction, DOE Secretary Sharon Garin said that an estimated budget of around P400 million will be needed to repair affected power lines. Garin visited Masbate on Tuesday to inspect and assess the damage to energy infrastructure. She was joined by National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda, National Power Corporation (NPC) President Jericho Jonas B. Nograles.

‘This is more than an inspection, this is a commitment. We came here to see and assess the extent of the damage and to personally assure the Provincial Government of Masbate, its local electric cooperatives, and the people of Masbate that the energy sector will do everything it can to restore electricity as quickly and safely as possible,’ she said.

Meanwhile, NEA said the cost of damage to critical facilities affected by typhoons Nando, Opong, and the southwest monsoon are estimated at P52.1 million spread across 17 electric cooperatives (ECs) nationwide.

This covers the areas of ABRECO (Abra), BATANELCO (Batanes), BENECO (Benguet), BISELCO (Busuanga Island), CAGELCO 2 (Cagayan), CAPELCO (Capiz), KAELCO (Kalinga Apayao), LEYECO 5 (Leyte), LUBELCO (Lubang Island), MARELCO (Marinduque), MOPRECO (Mountain Province), NORSAMELCO (Northern Samar), OMECO, (Occidental Mindoro), ORMECO (Oriental Mindoro), ROMELCO (Romblon), SAMELCO 2 (Samar), and TIELCO (Tablas Island).

The DOE chief commended line workers from various ECs nationwide who, under Task Force Kapatid, have been arriving in Masbate since Sunday to support the Masbate Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MASELCO).

‘We are moving with urgency, but also with care. Safety remains our top priority for both workers on the ground and the public. Together, we will restore power and restore hope,’ Garin added.

Opong, which recently battered the Bicol Region, caused widespread damage to energy infrastructure, leaving many parts of Masbate without power.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *